Commonly misused words - part 1

Commonly misused words

The following list contain pairs of words that often cause problems because they sound alike or have a similar meaning. Learn to distingguish between them and then do the exercise which follows.

1. ACCEPT (v) and EXCEPT (prep) Accept means answer affimatively, agree. Except means omitting.

We accepted their offer of a 10% salary increase.

Answer all the questions except No.2.

2. ACCESS (n) and EXCESS (adj) Access means way of gaining entrance, Excess means extra amount.

There was no access to the house from the back.

There was a charge for excess baggage.

3. ADVICE (n) and ADVISE (v) Advice means an opinion, Advise means give an opinion.

He never listened to his father’s advice.

They advised us to take precautions in hot climate.

4. AFFECT (v) and EFFECT (n) Affect means influence (v), effect means result (n), achieve (v)

The drug was not affecting his speech.

The effect of the drug was quick.

5. AGAIN (adv) and AGAINST (prep) Again means another time, against means in opposition to something or someone.

John took the test again for a better score.

The director was against the idea.

6. ALLUSION (n) and ILLUSION (n) Allusion means an indirect reference, illusion means an unreal image,

She made an allusion to his weight.

In the heat, one gets the illusion that the streets are wet.

7. ALMOST (adv) and MOST (adj) Almost means very nearly, most means the greatest part.

Almost everyone participated in the class.

Most coffe shops serve food as well.

8. AMONG (prep) and BETWEEN (prep) Among is used for three or more persons or things; Between is used for two persons or things.

The question was discussed between John and Bob.

The question was discussed among all the members of the faculty.

9. ALREADY (adv) and ALL READY (adj) Already means by this time, All ready means prepared.

The class had already started when we got there.

She was dressed and all ready to go out.

10. AMOUNT (n) and NUMBER (n) Amount is used with non-count nouns; Number is used with count nouns.

The number of whales is decreasing.

There was a small amount of sugar in the bowl.

11. BARELY (adv) and HARDLY (adv) Barely means only just, Hardly means with difficulty.

I could hardly hear the lecture at the back of the hall.

He had barely enough money to cover the bill.

12. BESIDE (prep) and BESIDES (prep) Beside means near to, Besides means in addition to.

She leaves her slippers beside her bed.

Besides this test, I have two more this week.

13. CAPITAL (n) and CAPITOL (n) Capital means the head town of a country or the accumulated wealth of a person; Capitol means the Congress or State legislature buildings.

He lost all the capital he put into the business.

There were guards in front of the Capitol building.

14. COMPLEMENT (v) and COMPLIMENT (v) Complement means to complete; Compliment means to praise.

He complimented her on her performance.

His tie complements the color of his suit.

15. CONSIDERABLE (adj) and CONSIDERATE (adj) Considerable means much; Considerate means thoughtful.

She has gone to considerable trouble to make this for you.

It was very considerate of the teacher to help me.

16. COSTUME (n) and CUSTOM (n) Costume means a typical style of dress; Custom means traditon.

The students wore their national costumes on International Day.

Each country has its own customs.

17. COUNCIL (n) and COUNSEL (n,v) Council means an assembly of officials; Counsel means advice (n) or to give advice (v)

He was elected as a member of the city council.

We followed the lawyer’s counsel.

18. CREDIBLE (adj) and CREDULOUS (adj) Credible means believable; Credulous means easily taken in.

The student’s excuse was very credible.

She is so credulous, she’ll believe anything.

19. DECENT (adj) and DESCENT (n) Decent means respectable, suitable; Descent means the way down.

A decent person would not cheat you like that.

The descent from the mountain was very dangerous.

20. DESSERT (n) and DESERT (n) Dessert means the final course of a meal;, usually sweet; Desert is a hot, dry area.

Some people eat fruit for dessert.

Cacti grow in the desert.

21. DEVICE (n) and DEVISE (v) Device means an invention; Devise means to create, contrive.

That is a good device for cutting material.

He devised a way of moving the broken-down car.

22. DIFFER (v) and DIFFERENt (adj) Differ and different both mean unlike, not the same, and both are followed by “from”.

These words do not differ from each other in meaning.

These words are different from each other as parts of speech.

23. ELICIT (v) and ILLICIT (adj) Elicit means to draw out; illicit means unlawful, forbidden.

The teacher elicited the answer she wanted from the student.

He gets his money from illicit dealings.

24. EMIGRANT (n) and IMMIGRANT (n) An emigrant is a person who leaves a country to go to another; an immigrant is a person coming to a country.

The first immigrants in American history came from England and the Netherlands.

Many emigrants left Europe for the United States at the beginning of the century.

25. EXAMPLE (n) and SAMPLE (n) Example means something which illustrates a point; Sample means a specimen of a whole.

The word “sugar” is an example of a non-count noun.

At a store they always give her a free sample of perfume.

26. FARTHER (adj) and FURTHER (adj) Both are used for distance, but Further is also used for time, degree and quantity.

Do not read any further than Chapter 1.

San Diego is further/farther south than Los Angeles.

27. FEWER (adj) and LESS (adj) Both mean a small amount or quantity, but fewer is used with count nounts and Less with non-count nouns.

You should eat fewer candies.

You should eat less sugar.

28. FORMER (n) and FIRST (n) Former means the first of two persons or things; First means the first of three or more persons or things.

The test had a listening section and a grammar section, but the former was more difficult for some students.

The test was comprised of three sections: a listening; a grammar, and a reading section, but some thought the first was the most difficult.

29. FORMERLY (adv) and FORMALLY (adv) Formerly means previously; Formally means elegantly, officiallly.

He was formerly a teacher, but now he is an actor.

He dressed formally for the banquet.

30. HAD BETTER (v) and WOULD RATHER (v) Had better is used for advice; Would rather is used for preference.

You had better stay in bed with your cold.

I would rather go to work.

Adapted from PHOENIX Preparation for TOEFL